Arsenal’s Invincibles are close to agreeing a deal on a documentary to chart their incredible 2003-4 season.
Mail Sport understands that, after a long period of negotiation, a breakthrough has taken place with an announcement on the project due in the near future.
Chronicling the story of the Gunners’ unbeaten campaign has been in the pipeline for some time, with the 20th anniversary now passed.
The situation has been fraught with issues – not least finding agreement with the playing squad and others involved.
At various points there have been problems with getting all of the group onboard. Without the likes of star men Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, for example, such a production would be unlikely to hit the mark.
Sources have disclosed, however, that in recent weeks there has been a ‘major breakthrough’, although they insist no final deal has been signed.
Arsenal’s Invincibles are close to agreeing a deal on a documentary about their 2003-4 season
Mail Sport understands that, after a long period of negotiation, a breakthrough has taken place
Earlier this month a large delegation of Invincibles reunited at the Football Writers’ Association tribute dinner, which this year honoured Bergkamp.
On a poignant night, the Dutchman, Henry and others including Ian Wright and influential former vice chairman David Dein reminisced about that unforgettable Premier League winning-season, along with manager Arsene Wenger and other squad members such as Martin Keown and Ray Parlour.
Industry insiders say talks, with Dein involved, have been ongoing for around two years.
Any club input in the project is unclear. Last year, Mail Sport revealed that former goalkeeper Jens Lehman had bought the branding rights to ‘the Invincibles’, paying £30,000 for the trademark used for the season.
The German disclosed that he was setting up a company with the backing of the squad, along with Wenger, in a move which raised eyebrows at the Emirates.
That company – The Invincibles 2003-04 Limited – is now registered with Companies House to an address in London. Under ‘Nature of Business’ it states its activities as ‘video production’.
Without the likes of Thierry Henry (centre) such a production would be unlikely to hit the mark
Lehman, who is currently listed as the only officer, said he had had the idea as the 20th anniversary approached. ‘We have 28 players and 12 staff members, which includes the boss,’ he said.
‘The company has not been set up yet because we’re still preparing. There will be one or two events here very soon where we give something back to the people. ‘Everybody will be a shareholder of the company. It’s easier to get all the members of our group in one company because you have costs and income created.
‘The company gets the revenue and then hopefully everything is shared. If we have income, we are going to do something for a charity.’
There would likely be no shortage of offers in the documentary, with the likes of Sky, Amazon and Disney among those expected to express an interest.
